Trump ends homeless vets program as their numbers rise for first time in 7 years

The Trump administration is ending a popular
and effective program that prevents veterans from ending up on the
street — just as the number of homeless vets is on the rise.

But the toxic right-wing ideology of Trump and his administration has
nonetheless seeped into the way they take care of and prioritize
veterans.

The VA said it was essentially ending a special $460 million program
that has dramatically reduced homelessness among chronically sick and
vulnerable veterans.

Anger exploded on a Dec. 1 call that was arranged by Shulkin’s
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans to explain the move. Advocates
for veterans, state officials and even officials from HUD, which
co-sponsors the program, attacked the decision, according to five people
who were on the call. The effect is that it would just be used far less
efficiently – and many more homeless veterans will be forced out onto
the streets. “The people in this program are the most vulnerable individuals,”
Matt Leslie, who runs the housing program for the Virginia Department of
Veterans Services, told Politico.

According to Politico, a popular program to house homeless veterans is on the chopping block — and at the worst possible moment:

Four days after Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin
held a big Washington event to tout the Trump administration’s promise
to house all homeless vets, the agency did an about-face, telling
advocates it was pulling resources from a major housing program.

The VA said it was essentially ending a special $460 million program
that has dramatically reduced homelessness among chronically sick and
vulnerable veterans. Instead, the money would go to local VA hospitals
that can use it as they like, as long as they show evidence of dealing
with homelessness.

Anger exploded on a Dec. 1 call that was arranged by Shulkin’s
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans to explain the move. Advocates
for veterans, state officials and even officials from HUD, which
co-sponsors the program, attacked the decision, according to five people
who were on the call.

Shulkin’s decision makes absolutely no sense. The move does not save
money, since the funding would simply be routed to other facilities. The
effect is that it would just be used far less efficiently — and many
more homeless veterans will be forced out onto the streets.

“The people in this program are the most vulnerable individuals,”
Matt Leslie, who runs the housing program for the Virginia Department of
Veterans Services, told Politico. “If someone’s going to die on the
streets, they are the ones.”

To make matters even worse, a report
released earlier today shows that the population of homeless veterans
increased in 2017 — the first time it has done so in seven years.

The callousness and insincerity of the Trump administration’s effort
to help those Americans who served is simply another reminder that Trump
only values their sacrifices when they are useful as props. From attacking Gold Star families to using a racial slur in front of Native American WWII heroes, Trump’s regard for the military changes on a dime.

Our military heroes have risked too much, and done too much for our
freedoms, to be subjected to this kind of treatment. They deserve a
president who honors commitments.

Trump ends homeless vets program as their numbers rise for first time in 7 years
Reviewed by Prameela Rani G N
on
December 06, 2017
Rating: 5